1LORD, why are you so far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?2An evil person is proud and hunts down those who are weak. He catches weak people by making clever plans.3He boasts about what his heart desires. He speaks well of those who always want more. He attacks the LORD with his words.4Because he is proud, that evil person doesn’t turn to the LORD. There is no room for God in any of his thoughts.5Everything always goes well for him. So he is proud. He doesn’t want to have anything to do with God’s laws. He makes fun of all his enemies.6He says to himself, ‘I will always be secure.’ He promises himself, ‘No one will ever harm me.’7His mouth is full of lies and warnings. With his tongue he speaks evil and makes trouble.8Sinful people hide and wait near the villages. From their hiding places they murder people who aren’t guilty. They watch in secret for those they want to attack.9They hide and wait like a lion in the bushes. From their hiding places they wait to catch those who are helpless. They catch them and drag them off in their nets.10Those they have attacked are beaten up. They fall to the ground. They fall because their attackers are too strong for them.11Sinful people say to themselves, ‘God will never notice. He covers his face. He never sees us.’12LORD, rise up! God, show your power! Don’t forget those who are helpless.13Why do sinful people attack you with their words? Why do they say to themselves, ‘He won’t hold us accountable’?14God, you see the problems of people in trouble. You take note of their pain. You do something about it. So those who are attacked place themselves in your care. You help children whose fathers have died.15Take away the power of sinful people. Hold them accountable for the evil things they do. Uncover all the evil they have done.16The LORD is King for ever and ever. The nations will disappear from his land.17LORD, you hear the desires of those who are hurting. You cheer them up and give them hope. You listen to their cries.18You stand up for those whose fathers have died and for those who have been treated badly. You do it so that mere human beings made of dust may not terrify others anymore.
Psalm 10
English Standard Version
Why Do You Hide Yourself?
1Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? (Ps 9:9; Ps 13:1; Ps 22:1; Ps 22:11; Ps 22:19; Ps 35:22; Ps 38:21)2In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised. (Ps 7:15)3For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses[1] and renounces the Lord. (Job 1:5; Job 1:11; Ps 10:13; Ps 94:4; Isa 3:9)4In the pride of his face[2] the wicked does not seek him;[3] all his thoughts are, “There is no God.” (Ps 10:3; Ps 14:1; Ps 53:1)5His ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them. (Ps 12:5; Isa 26:11)6He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.” (Ps 10:11; Ps 10:13; Re 18:7)7His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity. (Job 20:12; Ps 5:5; Ps 6:8; Ps 7:14; Ps 36:3; Ps 55:11; Ps 72:14; Ps 140:3; So 4:11; Ro 3:14)8He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless; (Ps 17:12; Ps 64:4; Hab 3:14)9he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net. (Job 38:40; Ps 9:15; Ps 17:12; Ps 59:3; Mic 7:2)10The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall by his might.11He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.” (Job 22:13; Ps 73:11; Ps 94:7; Eze 8:12; Eze 9:9; Zep 1:12)12Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted. (Ps 3:7; Ps 9:12; Ps 9:18; Mic 5:9)13Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”? (Ps 9:12; Ps 10:3)14But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless. (Ps 33:13; Ps 68:5; Ps 146:9; Ho 14:3; 2Ti 1:12; 1Pe 4:19)15Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none. (Ps 37:17; Ps 37:36; Isa 41:12)16The Lord is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land. (Ex 15:18; De 8:20; Ps 29:10; Jer 10:10; La 5:19; Da 4:34; Da 6:26; 1Ti 1:17; Re 11:15)17O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear (1Ch 29:18)18to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more. (Ps 9:9; Ps 9:19; Ps 17:14; Ps 74:21; Ps 82:3; Isa 1:17; Isa 11:4)